Drum gripper



1967 TAKEFUSA KIKUCHI 3,3335% DRUM GRIPPER Filed Oct. 4, l965 United States Patent 3,333,883 DRUM GRIPPER Takefusa Kikuchi, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to Taiyu Shoji Ifabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan, a corporation of apan Filed Oct. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 492,582 2 Claims. (Cl. 29490) This invention relates generally to a barrel and drum handling apparatus, and more particularly to a device in the nature of tongs for gripping a barrel or drum by its upper chime to provide for suspended support of the container in an upright position.

Heretofore when barrels and drums have been lifted and transported by means of a crane or the like, it has been customary to use hooks engaged beneath the lower chime of the container, or to wind the lower end portion of the lifting rope around the container. Neither of these expedients afforded a safe and stable securement of the container, and both were awkward and time consuming.

By contrast, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a very simple and inexpensive device which can be attached to the rope or cable of a crane or the like, can be very quickly set in place on the upper portion of a drum or barrel, and is caused to securely grip the drum or barrel in consequence of the mere exertion of lifting force upon the rope or cable to which the device is attached.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tongs for gripping a drum or barrel by its upper chime to enable the container to be lifted by a crane or the like, which tongs insures that the drum or barrel will be lifted and carried with its axis upright and exerts a gripping force upon the chime which is proportional to the weight of the drum or barrel.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates two complete examples of physical embodiments of the invention constructed accordingto the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a gripping device or tongs of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation of a modified embodiment of the tongs of this invention, shown in its condition of engagement with a drum; and

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation of apparatus incorporating a plurality of the devices of this invention, used for lifting several drums simultaneously.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, the device of this invention, designated generally by 5, is in the nature of tongs, and may thus be considered as comprising a pair of medially fulcrumed bent levers 6 and 7, connected by a pivot 8 for swinging motion relative to one another about coinciding fulcrum axes. Each of the bent levers 6 and 7 has a longer arm 9 and 10, respectively, and a shorter arm 11 and 12, respectively, the shorter arm in each case being disposed substantially perpendicular to the longer arm, and the two levers being so connected by the pivot 8 that the shorter arm of each is generally adjacent to the longer arm of the other.

The bent lever 6, which can be regarded as relatively stationary in the operation of the device, and which is thus in the nature of a bracket, normally has its longer arm 9 projecting downwardly from the pivot 8 Near the lower end of said longer arm 9 is a pad or abutment 13 which faces generally in the direction that the shorter arm 11 projects and which is adapted to engage the side of a drum D, a distance below its upper chime C. Projecting downwardly from the shorter arm 11 of the bracket 6 is a short leg 14 that terminates at its bottom in a jaw member 15 which faces generally toward the longer leg 9 and which is adapted to engage the inner surface of the upper chime C of a drum D.

It will be seen that the bracket 6 can be regarded as inverted U-shaped, with legs 9 and 14 of unequal lengths (the leg 14 being substantially shorter than the leg 9), and with the shorter lever arm 11 providing the bight portion of the bracket. The bent lever 7 is pivotally connected to the bracket 6 near the bight portion 11 of the latter.

The upper end portion of the longer arm or leg 9 of the bracket 6 is bifurcated, to provide a slot 17, and such bifurcation can continue all the way to the jaw member 15. In the slot 17 is received the bent lever 7, with its shorter leg 12 embraced by the upper portion of the arm or leg 9 and extending generally parallel thereto. The longer arm 10 of the lever 7 extends generally horizontally, perpendicular to the long arm or leg 9 and across the jaw member 15, and has at its free end a hook 18 or other securement means by which it can be attached to a rope, cable or similar suspension for the device. At the bottom of the shorter arm 12 of the bent lever 7 there is a jaw member 19 which faces generally in the direction that the long arm 10 extends, and which opposes the jaw member 15 and is adapted to engage the outer surface of the upper chime C of a drum.

It will now be evident that the bracket 6 can be, in efifect, hooked over the top of a drum, with the jaw member 15 engaging the inner surface of the upper chime and the pad or abutment 13 engaging the side of the drum, and that swinging the long arm 10 upwardly will then converge the jaw member 19 relatively toward the jaw member 15, the latter being held relatively stationary by the reaction of the pad or abutment 13 against the side of the drum. Such upward swinging of the arm 10 is of course effected by raising of a rope or other suspension means to which the book 18 is connected, as in the course of hoisting the drum. It will also be evident that the heavier the drum, the greater will be the gripping force of the jaws.

Preferably the long arm 10 of the bent lever 7 is of such length as to dispose the hook 18 in line with the axis of a drum gripped by the device, so that the drum will remain in upright position even though the device grips it only at one side.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the device can be provided with a readily releasable locking means 20' by which the jaws can be prevented from separating and which connects with the respective bent levers 6 and 7 at points spaced from their fulcrum axes defined by the pin 8. As illustrated, the locking means 20 comprises a pin 21 bridging lateral extensions 22 of the bifurcations at the top of the longer arm or leg 9, and a hook-like latch member 23, swingably mounted on a bracket or projection 24 on the bent lever 7 and engageable with the pin 21.

As shown in FIGURE 3, a number of devices of this invention can be used to lift simultaneously an equal number of drums, the several devices being suspended at spaced intervals along a horizontal beam 25, at uniform heights above the floor or ground, and the beam being connected at its center with the cable 26 of a crane or the like.

From the foregoing description taken together with the accompanying drawing it will be apparent that this invention provides a very simple, convenient and inexpensive device in the nature of tongs for gripping a drum or barrel by its upper chime to enable the drum or barrel to be lifted and carried in an upright position, which device can be set in place very quickly and easily, secures itself to the drum or barrel in consequence of the application of lifting force to the device, and securely grips the drum or barrel with a force that is proportional to the weight of the container.

What is claimed as my invention is:

, 1. A tongs for gripping a drum by its upper chime to provide for support of the drum from suspension means above the same, said tongs comprising:

(A) a pair of bent levers, each having (1) a medial fulcrum axis,

(2) a longer arm, and

(3) a shorter arm substantially perpendicular to the longer arm;

(B) pivot means connecting said levers for swinging motion relative to one another with their fulcrum axes coinciding and with the shorter arm of each generally adjacent to the longer arm of the other;

C. abutment means on the free end portion of the longer arm of one of said levers, facing in the direction that its shorter arm projects, for engaging the side surface of a drum beneath the upper chime thereof;

(D) means on the free end portion of the shorter arm of said one lever providing a first jaw member which faces toward its longer arm and which is adapted to engage the inner surface of the upper chime of a drum;

(E) a second jaw member on the free end of the shorter arm of the other lever, generally opposing said first jaw member and engageable with the outer surface of the upper chime of a drum;

(F) securement means on the free end of the long arm of said other lever for connecting the same with suspension means, so that when said last named long arm extends across the top of a drum, with said jaw members engaging opposite faces of the upper chime of the drum, the application of upward force to said securement means causes the jaw members to securely grip said chime; and

(G) cooperating locking means on said levers for confining them against swinging motion out of a position in which the jaw members are engaged with the chime of a drum, said locking means comprising means on one of said levers defining an abutment spaced from its pivot axis, and

latch means mounted on the other lever for motion relative thereto toward and from a position in which said latch means is engaged with the last named abutment means.

2. A tongs for gripping a drum by its upper chime to provide for support of the drum from suspension means above the same, said tongs comprising:

(A) an inverted U-shaped bracket having (1) a bight portion,

(2) a longer leg projecting downwardly from said bight portion, and V (3) a shorter leg projecting downwardly from said bight portion;

(B) a pad on said longer leg, near the lower end thereof, facing generally in the direction toward the shorter leg and engageable with the side of a drum beneath its upper chime;

(C) a first jaw member on said shorter leg, near the lower end thereof, facing generally toward the longer leg and adapted to engage the inner surface of the upper chime of a drum;

(D) means providing a second jaw member generally opposing said first jaw member and pivoted to said bracket near the bight portion thereof for swinging motion toward and from the first jaw member, said second jaw member being adapted for engagement with the outer surface of the upper chime of a drum;

(E) a lever arm extending generally in the first named direction and disposed above the jaw members, said lever arm being connected with said second jaw member to swing in unison therewith so that upward movement of said lever arm effects relative convergence of said jaw members;

(F) securement means on the free end of said lever arm for connecting the same with suspension means; and

(G) readily releasable locking means connected with said jaw members for holding them against separation to thereby maintain them in gripping relationship to the chime of a drum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,221,042 4/1917 Frankell 294-104 X 2,764,447 9/1965 Schmidt 294-15 X 3,190,685 6/1965 Bopp 294-104 x FOREIGN PATENTS 4,702 11/1913 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. G. F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TONGS FOR GRIPPING A DRUM BY ITS UPPER CHIME TO PROVIDE FOR SUPPORT OF THE DRUM FROM SUSPENSION MEANS ABOVE THE SAME, SAID TONGS COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF BENT LEVERS, EACH HAVING (1) A MEDIAL FULCRUM AXIS, (2) A LONGER ARM, AND (3) A SHORTER ARM SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGER ARM; (B) PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING SAID LEVERS FOR SWINGING MOTION RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER WITH THEIR FULCRUM AXES COINCIDING AND WITH THE SHORTER ARM OF EACH GENERALLY ADJACENT TO THE LONGER ARM OF THE OTHER; C. ABUTMENT MEANS ON THE FREE END PORTION OF THE LONGER ARM OF ONE OF SAID LEVERS, FACING IN THE DIRECTION THAT ITS SHORTER ARM PROJECTS, FOR ENGAGING THE SIDE SURFACE OF A DRUM BENEATH THE UPPER CHIME THEREOF; (D) MEANS ON THE FREE PORTION OF THE SHORTER ARM OF SAID ONE LEVER PROVIDING A FIRST JAW MEMBER WHICH FACES TOWARD ITS LONGER ARM AND WHICH IS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE INNER SURFACE OF THE UPPER CHIME OF A DRUM; (E) A SECOND JAW MEMBER ON THE FREE END OF THE SHORTER ARM OF THE OTHER LEVER, GENERALLY OPPOSING SAID FIRST JAW MEMBER AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE UPPER CHIME OF A DRUM; (F) SECUREMENT MEANS ON THE FREE END OF THE LONG ARM OF SAID OTHER LEVER FOR CONNECTING THE SAME WITH SUSPENSION MEANS, SO THAT WHEN SAID LAST NAMED LONG ARM EXTENDS ACROSS THE TOP OF A DRUM, WITH SAID JAW MEMBERS ENGAGING OPPOSITE FACES OF THE UPPER CHIME OF THE DRUM, THE APPLICATION OF UPWARD FORCE TO SAID SECUREMENT MEANS CAUSES THE JAW MEMBERS TO SECURELY GRIP SAID CHIME; AND (G) COOPERATING LOCKING MEANS ON SAID LEVERS FOR CONFINING THEM AGAINST SWINGING MOTION OUT OF A POSITION IN WHICH THE JAW MEMBERS ARE ENGAGED WITH THE CHIME OF A DRUM, SAID LOCKING MEANS COMPRISING MEANS ON ONE OF SAID LEVERS DEFINING AN ABUTMENT SPACED FROM ITS PIVOT AXIS, AND LATCH MEANS MOUNTED ON THE OTHER LEVER FOR MOIN WHICH SAID LATCH MEANS IS ENGAGED WITH THE LAST NAMED ABUTMENT MEANS. 